In February 2007, at twenty eight years old, Meaghan was diagnosed with 3b cervical cancer while in her second year of law school. Given less than 20% chance of surviving she was flown to Dana Farber Cancer Institute and received Chemo Therapy, Internal and External radiation, nephrostomy tubes along with countless surgeries. Meaghan spent almost 3 months in the hospital enduring extreme pain. Even after her treatments ended she had surgery every three months until March 2009 when her rib and left kidney were removed. Since then she has advocated on behalf of all those battling this terrible disease.

It is with this spirit of gratitude, Meaghan founded Spirit Jump, a grassroots nonprofit organization with a mission to provide hope and comfort to the many men, women and children battling cancer. Spirit Jump accomplishes this by providing uplifting cards and inspirational gifts during this most difficult time.

Through her personal blog and nonprofit organization Meaghan has become heavily involved in Social Media. Meaghan is the New Media Director for SMASHYN, a boutique social media consulting firm and a guest writer for Mashable. You can read Meaghan's published articles HERE

Gravity Summit Panel at UCLA: Speaker on Social Media Meets Social Good Panel

Washington DC on The Hill: Speakerfor Cervical Cancer Awareness

NTEN: Speaker On Panel:Beyond Traditional Fundraising: Utilizing the Web and Social Networks to Secure Donors.

Awards

In July, 2009 more than 46,000 people visited the Great Nonprofits Web site, and 1864 reviews were posted about more than 120 cancer-fighting organizations. The 2009 Cancer Fighter Award for the Southern Region went to Spirit Jump. Spirit Jump won by receiving the most positive reviews out of all the Southern Cancer Charities including American Cancer Society and Fran Dresscher's Cancer Schmancer Foundation.

2 comments:

What an amazing story. For someone so young you certainly demonstrated an extraordinary level of tenacity and courage to fight something that sounds so horrible. I hope you were able to complete your law degree. Pretty amazing what you've done in establishing your non-profit. I admire. As someone nearly three times your age I'm blown away with what you have accomplished. I found you on SITS btw. Drop by and visit me--although my quest is nothing as dramatic and impressive as yours my desire to make a difference is no less intensive. I am working and living alone in Cairo, Egypt (my family including my husband remain in the states) where I am working on a US govt funded project to get girls into school and keep them there doing well. We can sure benefit from the savvy of social media which you seem to have mastered. Good luck to you! dianeswords.wordpress.com